Apparatus for the transfusion of blood



H. H. LIVINGSTON APPARATUS FOR TRANSFUSION OF BLOOD Ji me 23, 1953 Filed Aug. 16, 1.952 fl-11-fl n A A m M 9 0 mm A m. A A? ,aY MB M W 5 A A /fl SE \5 m 3 4 :1: j 0 A a J Patented June 23, 1953 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE'FI APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSFUSION OF I BLOOD This invention relates to an apparatus for the transfusion of blood to patients, and has for its object to provide such a device which is efllcient and safe to the patients.

For this purpose, the invention consists, of transporting blood from a source of supply under gas pressure to the injection needle, under control of special valves for governing the passage of blood in said apparatus combined 'with a safety means so that no air or gas can be pumped into the patient.

The invention will be further described, an embodiment shown in the drawings and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a, top view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the improved valve struc ture;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the same; and

Fig. 5- is a side view partly in section of the float valve controlling the flow of fluid.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views.

Referring to the drawings, a plurality of containers H! for holding the blood to be transferred are suitably supported on hooks H or on a shelf or high table (not shown).

Tubes [2 for discharging the containers meet at a common juncture distributor from which a pipe 13 leads to a valve casing I! of a control container or flask 23 on a plate or table 2| (Fig. 2). Preferably, two such flasks 20 are used for expediency. Each of these containers 20 has a valve casing I1. 3

On the plate or table 2| (Fig. 2) there are disposed two Sparklets cartridges 23, two tubings 24, two pressure regulating needle valves 25, a pressure gauge 26, and two push type delivery valves 21, and two tubings 28 leading to the casing ll closing the transfusion container or flask 20. While some of these parts are in duplicate, a single series could be used.

The gas pressure in the flask 20 created by the cartridge 23, forces blood through the safety valve 30 (Fig. 5). This consists of a base 3|, a shut ofl valve seat 45 controlled by a float guide 44 on a float 32.

The casing H has four vertical passages, a vent 2 Claims. (Cl. 128.-214) to register with blood inlet IS. The third hole passage 38. a blow inlet passage [6, a blood supply passage 35, and a gas inlet passage 28. The first three are controlled by a valve 49, in which bores or holes are provided, two vertically, one

or bore 3 'l is axially at right angles to these two, and when brought into registration with the conduit of tube 35 permits theflow of blood from the flask 20 to the needle, the vent and blood inlet then being shut off.

Out of the exit port 34 the blood passes upwardly into the tube 35, through the casing I1, and into the final delivery tube 35 having a needle The casing I! also acts as a refill device. When the handle 36, closes a passage 31 and hole lBa is open in a vertical position, it allowing a flow of blood from the bank of reserve flasks by the tube It to flow into the flask. I

Any displaced gas or air during suchrefilling escapes through the vent 38 of the casing H, as

the hole 38a in the valve 49 is in registration with the vent 38.

Vfnen the desired blood level has been attained, the valve 36 is turned the vent is shut off and blood supply line [6 is also shut off, but the hole 31 is in registration with the tube 35, the gassupply 2,8 having a free passage, by the operation of the handle 36.

Pressure on the button 27 sends gas into flask 20, which button 21 controls a Vernier to adjust flow of gas.

The cartridge capsule at 23 when released delivers pressure of CO2 into the system. When the blood level has descended and reaches the float 32, it shuts ofi the column of blood at 45.

A movable bracket 42 has an opening for the passage of a stem 43 extending upwardly from the float 32, in order to guide the float 32, and the valve member 33 into the valve seat 45. The bracket has a fastening device 4|, to'fasten the bracket tightly in position, with capability of adjustment of the bracket vertically along the tube 35.

The general operation is as follows:

By positioning valve handle 36, blood from the tube 16 enters the flask 20 and vents gases in the flask. Then the handle 36 is turned back to open or register the passage 31., Then the button 21 is pressed and gas enters the flask 20. The float 32 is up against the bracket 42 and blood rises in tube 35, and through casing I! to the needle 35a.

4 When the blood level in flask 20 reaches the float 32 and further descends, then the float 32 moves downwardlyto have its valve rod 33 close the valve seat 45 and prevents any blood or gas from entering the passage 34, and consequently (38a) to register with vent 38, and one (Ilia) '65 p eve s b o air from enteringtube 35 and its needle 35a. The handle 36 is again turned, the gas in flask is vented through vent 38, and new blood from tube I6 enters the flask through the open passage l6a. When the flask 20 has been filled, the handle 36 is again turned back for the closing of the passage 16a. A spring 48 holds the rotary valve 49 in suitable position.

The improvement differs from the known art in that a control device at the bottom of the flask is provided which intercepts the flow of liquid by means of a float valve at the time when the level of the liquid has been depressed to a point where the buoyant drum descends and locks the outflow, so that no air or gas can be pumped into the patient.

the present vernier adjuster to adjust the rate of flow, a

type of valve on the neck of the bottle which allows the re-flll of the delivery bottle automatically so that when many bottles of blood are to be administered to the patient the operator may fill one bottle while dispensing the second one.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for the transfusion of blood to patients, having a supply container with a dependant tube, and a flask below said tube, the combination of means for supplying gas to said flask, a tube for receiving blood from within said flask and extending outwardly thereof with a needle at its end, a casing in said flask at its neck opening having a valve with a handle, said valve having passages in registration with said blood supply tube and with the atmosphere, and with the blood for the patient, and said casing having a passage for the gas supply to the interior of said flask, and a float valve means interposed between the blood in the flask and the blood supply tube having the needle, to shut off blood, gas, and air from said needle.

2. In an apparatus for the transfusion of blood to patients, the combination of a flask having a neck opening, a casing in said neck, conduits in said casing passing from top to bottom thereof, a gas supply communicating through one of said conduits, for entrance of gas into said flask, control means for supplying blood into said flask, control means for venting said flask, control means for supplying blood to the patient, a float valve having a float stem and a valve seat for said stem at the bottom of said flask, and a tube having a needle for receiving the blood under the pressure of said gas in said flask communicating with said valve seat and with the control means for supplying blood to the patient, whereby the blood flowing to the needle is prevented from entraining air or gas to said needle.

HERMAN H. LIVINGSTON.

No references cited. 

